Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    On this day in 2020... Storm Dennis arrives in the UK

09:00
15 February 2023

On this day in 2020...
Storm Dennis arrives in the UK

Large waves
Large crashing waves at the harbour of Porthcawl, Wales preceded the arrival of Storm Dennis in 2020. - © picture alliance

On this day in 2020, Storm Dennis impacted the UK and Ireland, becoming one of the most damaging in years building upon the destruction from Storm Ciara.

Amid the two days the storm lasted over land, Dennis delivered heavy rains and strong winds resulting in flooding across the entirety of the UK.

At the River Taff and Rhondda catchments in Wales, more than 160 millimetres of rain was recorded in a day, greater than their monthly rainfall average.

A separate station in Aberdaron also recorded wind gusts as strong as 91 miles per hour while 50 miles per hour gusts were also recorded in Kent.

Major incidents were declared across England while south Wales experienced devastating flooding. At Dennis' peak 152 flood warnings were in effect across Wales, the highest number ever in force at one time.

River levels also rose to record highs with the River Taff at Pontypridd reaching its highest level for over 40 years, 80 cm higher than the historic flooding of 1979.

In total seven lives were known to have been lost as a result of Storm Dennis, with five in the UK.

Ireland largely avoided widespread damage from flooding, instead experiencing fierce gale-force winds leading to widespread power outages.

Dennis was named on February 11, 2020, while still situated over southern America. As the storm moved over the Atlantic it experienced explosive intensification becoming one of the most intense extratropical cyclones on record.

By February 17, Dennis had moved on from the UK and impacted Europe before dissipating a day later.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Huge waterspout on Lake Constance. Tornado over water. . . Thursday, 2 July 2026
A photograph of a waterspout over Lake Constance
Thursday, 2 July 2026

Tornado over water

Huge waterspout on Lake Constance
A sudden change in weather for Europe. Thunderstorms & tornadoes. . . Thursday, 2 July 2026
Split image showing a dramatic supercell thunderstorm with a lowering cloud base over farmland on the left, and a Europe lightning map on the right with dense lightning strikes and a thunderstorm warning symbol across central and southeastern Europe.
Thursday, 2 July 2026

Thunderstorms & tornadoes

A sudden change in weather for Europe
Summer in full flow. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 5 July 2026
Split image showing golden crepuscular rays streaming through sunset clouds over the countryside on the left, and glowing blue noctilucent clouds above silhouetted trees and traffic lights at twilight on the right.
Sunday, 5 July 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Summer in full flow
All weather news
This might also interest you
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday, 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday, 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday, 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList